RSPB Lochwinnoch is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year, but May and June have to be some of my favourite months. The bluebells are out in force, the wildflower meadow is in bloom, the trees have re-greened and the air is full of birdsong and fluttering butterflies. The swallows have returned for the summer and can be seen darting and swooping over the water, catching insects on the wing, and the occasional osprey is observed hunting slightly larger prey! All in all, the reserve is a hive of activity.
The reserve is a great place to come for inspiration if you’re looking to establish your own wildlife-friendly environments at home – the staff and volunteers have worked hard to create a variety of habitats to make it a haven for wildlife, and there are plenty of ideas to copy for your own green space – whatever the size.
On 20th May the reserve will be holding its annual plant sale, enabling you to take a little bit of nature home with you and create your own wildlife-friendly garden. Our local supplier has provided a range of plants to suit a variety of needs, so whether you’re looking to add a bit of colour to your borders, refresh your hanging baskets or add foliage and texture to your garden, you’ll be sure to find something to give nature a helping hand on your own patch.
The RSPB’s A-Z of a wildlife garden is a great resource to give you practical ideas and advice, and of course we have a range of products in our shop, from nest boxes and bat boxes to bug hotels and hedgehog homes – but if you’d like a project, perhaps something to do with your children or grandchildren, why not make your own?
The RSPB has instructions for a variety of projects including a bug hotel, insect homes, hedgehog homes, ponds, wildlife lawns, nest boxes and planting for wildlife, so get creative and give nature a home!
We’d love to see your creations, which you can share via social media with the hashtag #homesfornature
RSPB Lochwinnoch plant sale Saturday 20th May 2017 12pm-3pm Free entry